Sky Snares Exclusive 'Star Wars' Rights for U.K.

The pay-TV giant is set to kick off the programming with the U.K.'s first 'Star Wars' marathon on May 4.

U.K. pay-TV giant Sky has struck a deal to acquire exclusive broadcast rights to all six existing Star Wars features.

Alongside the first three films and three prequels, the deal also incorporates additional content, such as the two animated series, Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and a selection of other programming, including Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed.

Sky, in which Rupert Murdoch’s Fox owns a 39 percent stake, is set to show the films and featurettes on its Sky Movies channel, kicking off on May 4 with U.K. TV’s first ever 48-hour Star Wars marathon.

Sky claimed that the arrangement marked the first time all such Star Wars content would be broadcast all in one place.